418 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



animal it will be noticed that there is considerable swell- 

 ing, redness, and tenderness manifest about the feet, at 

 the coronet and between the digits of each foot. Erup- 

 tions similar to those within the mouth make their 

 appearance upon these swollen regions of the foot a day 

 or two later, and at this stage it is usual to find that 

 like lesions have made their appearance upon the per- 

 ineum of the victim. In the case of milch cows, the 

 udder, and more particularly the teats, show the same 

 vesicular eruption, but the latter as the result of milk- 

 ing soon become covered with reddened spots deprived 

 of the superficial layer of skin and may develop deep, 

 obstinate fissures. 



As soon as the disease has become well established the 

 patient evinces pain when attempting to eat; in fact 

 the appetite is often so seriously affected that all food 

 is refused and the animal uneasily opens and shuts its 

 mouth with a characteristic smacking sound, while 

 strings of cohesive, ropy saliva hang suspended from the 

 lips. "With the advance of the disease the vesicles have 

 widened and extended until they may reach a diameter 

 ranging from that of a dime to that of a silver dollar. 

 •These rupture soon after their appearance, sometimes 

 on the first day, more rarely on the second or third day. 

 After they have ruptured the grayish white membrane 

 forming the blister may remain attached for a day or 

 more, or disappear speedily and leave deeply reddened 

 sensitive spots or erosions, both within the mouth and 

 upon the coronet and between the claws of the feet. 

 Similar erosions, which quickly form scabs as a rule, 

 may be noticed in cases in which the teats of milch cows 

 have become affected, and instances are reported in 

 which sloughing of the tegument immediately around 

 the lesions upon the udder has occurred. Owing to the 



